There is another Mets team in the playoff hunt, the Syracuse
Mets. On August 13th, after a
9-6 loss to the Durham Bulls, the Syracuse Mets were 59-61 and 6 games out of
first place.
Since then they have won 9
straight games and have pulled to a game and a half behind the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Rail Riders (the Yankees AAA affiliate) with a 68-61 record.
What has been the biggest reason for the turnaround? Pitching.
Especially starting pitching. Corey
Oswalt and Drew Gagnon have each recently won International League Pitcher of
the week awards. Ervin Santana, Chris
Mazza, and Walker Lockett have been solid too.
Last night, Harol Gonzalez went 7 innings allowing just 4 hits
and one run in a 5-1 win over Rochester.
Stephen Nogosek pitched a scoreless 8th to keep his ERA at
0.00 and Tim Peterson pitched a scoreless 9th.
Every night it seems like there is a different offensive
contributor as well. Danny Espinosa
leads the team with 75 RBI’s and always seems to have a big, multiple pitch at
bat, when needed. Rene Rivera has 25
homers and 73 RBI’s and Travis Taijeron has 24 homers and 69 RBI’s.
Last night, Ali Sanchez went 3 for 3 with 2
RBI’s. In 12 games since being called up
from Binghamton, Ali is .273 while proving solid catching skills and handling a
new pitching staff.
At a recent Syracuse Mets game, a long time Syracuse fan
told me how happy he was that the Mets had stocked the team with former Major
Leaguers and that the Nationals had never done that. He added that the Nationals would call the
best players up the majors as soon as September hit killing any post season
chance that Syracuse might have. He said
that young players need to learn how to win and that playoff experience can be
invaluable even in the minor leagues.
I tend to agree with him.
I hope the Syracuse Mets get to experience it this year.
What do you think?
What do you think?
7 comments:
A very nice run.
It is a double edged sword. Stockpiling has-beens might be good for the local team's playoff run but it does little to help the big club should they need help. Then again, given the manipulation of service time it may be that the club would rather take those veterans and older non-prospects like Gagnon and Mazza rather than giving more deserving younger players like Matt Blackham a shot.
Reese calls them bas-beens. I call them used cars.
I totaled my car last month and all I could afford was a used car... a 2011 Lexus SUV with all the bells and whistles that looks brand new.
Joe Panic was a has-been.
Anyway, I agree that there aren't man current chips on this team.
I have 4 blue chips on this team: C Ali Sanchez, relievers Stephen Nogosek and Matt Blackham, and starter Harol Gonzalez
When you don't have a good minor league you have to fill it with veterans so when the inevitable injury hits your team, you have MLB capable talent to step in at keast for the short hall. If they can provide help to younger players and some winning games for the local fans along the way - all the better.
John -
Especially when your upper level teams are currently void of chip talent
And as much as people malign the Mets farm system, it is bettet than the Tigers AAA pitching. The Syracuse-Toledo game I attend featured Walker Lockett versus Edwin Jackson. Yes that Edwin Jackson. After he was pulled from the gane next two relivers were both north of 30 (think one was 32 and the other 35).
Panik can still play good defense, he has playoff experience that can be a leader in the clubhouse.
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